Filler plug for pocket lighters



March 1951 F. R. RIZZO ETAL 2,546,475

FILLER PLUG FOR POCKET LIGHTERS Filed Oct. 14, -l948 35 Fig 6 15 9 5 35 45 43 42 30 3/ 9 N i /& 32 E F ran/r R. Rizzp I9 22 2/ Char/es G. Rizg INVENTORS BY I Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLER PLUG FOR POCKET LIGHTERS Frank E. Rizzo, La Grange, and Charles 'C. Rizzc, Chicago, 111.

Application October 14, 1948, Serial No. 354,536

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates :tocertain new and useful improvements in pocket and table type lighters commonly referred to in the trade as pocket lighters or cigar and cigarette lighters as the case may he, and the object .of the invention is to provide a simple, eificient and practical lfiller plug to assist one in conveniently and readiily .lilling the lighter with :so-called lighter .fluid.

More particularly, the invention is primarily designed for use conjunction with dispensers containing lighter :fluid which are placed on store counters and .in public places for convenience of the public. Naturally, it is inconvenient to have to remove the usual screw :plug, inject the fluid then replace the plug.

The "purpose of the present invention is :to provide .a :filler plug which has a closing valve incorporated therein, the closing valve being available and "including a press-button, the latter being s'ituatedso that by forcibly pressing the "end of arigid nozzle against same, the job of replenishing the lighter fluid .is :made easy.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention we provide a simple and economical screw type plug which is characterized by the plug proper and which -:carries a readily attachable and detachable fitting, the latter serving as :a valve cage and there being a button type valve provided, the latter operable in the plug proper and the plug proper being provided with a filler hole into which 'the'button is spring pressed when closed and not in use.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative :drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional type pocket lighter, so called, constructed in 'accordance with the principles of the present invention. l

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary :plan view.

FigurelB "is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure locking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure "4 "is a sectional view based on Figure 3 and showing the manner in which the device is employed during the filling step.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the nozzle removed and the button appearing in section, said View being at rightangles to Figure 4 to bringfout the screw driver kerfs.

' Figures is a view like Figure 3'showing a "modified type of spring closed valve, a form which is used on larger type lighters, for instance, socalled table models.

Referring now to the drawings and first to Figure 1, the numeral 1 designates a conventional spring .23.

cigar or cigarette lighter which maybe of the pocket or counter type, whichever is desired. The numeral 8 designates a cap forming a part of the lighter and the numeral 9 designates the bottom of the lighter through which the fluid from the can ll) is delivered into the container. Usually the bottom 9 in a lighter of this type has a "screw hole and a simple screw plug (not shown) with a flanged and knurled grip is provided. It is necessary to remove the plug and to then insert the stiff nozzle ll of the fluid can it into the then uncovered filler opening. We contemplate doing away with the usual screw plug and substituting the improved type herein shown. The plug proper is :denoted :by the numeral I2 and has external threads :13 which screw into theopening in the bottom 9 'as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 particularly. A suitable finger grip M is provided and in addition screw driver kerfs l5 are availably provided for use if and when necessary. The numeral I16 designates a gasket and I"! the centralized filler hole to accommodate the nozzle H as shown in Figure 4. The plug is of a hollow type and this provides a socket having "internal threads FI' B to accommodate :a screw cup-like fitting 19. The fitting which, "as stated, takes the form of a screw threaded cup is threaded as at ZEI and .has a central discharge opening 2.! for the fluid and screw driver kerfs .22 for a small screw driver. The fitting serves as a sort 'of a cage for the valve and spring. The spring here takes the form of a coiled spring 23 Land is fitted in the cup and bears against the "disk-like portion 24 of the projectable rand retractable valve. "The central portion of the valve is fashioned into a :button 25 and the latter is projectable and retractable in relation to the filler hole 13!. The numeral 26 designates intake ports formed in the valve and the "numeral 2] designates a suitable washer located in the socket of the plug and serving to affect a substantially fluid tight closure when 'the valve is spring closed as shown in Figure 3.

In practice the nozzle H is simply pressed forcibly against the button 2-5 and the latter is, in turn, pressed into the ,plug ii 2, compressing the The fluid .fiows from the nozzle through the inlet ports '26 and is then delivered into the casing portion of the lighter by way of "the discharge opening 2'! The construction is simple and the mode of application and use is equally simple. In such circumstances it seems unnecessary to dwell at greater length on secondary particulars.

Referring now to the modification of the larger 3 table sized lighter, here the bottom of the lighter is denoted by the numeral 30, the same having a screw threaded hole 3| to accommodate the threads 32 on the plug 33. The numeral 34 is a packing ring and 35 denotes finger gripping portion of the plug. The plug has a central filler hole 36 and has internal screw threads to accommodate the coacting threads 31 on the inverted cup-like fitting 38. This has a discharge opening 39 and screw driver kerfs 40. The fitting serves to accommodate the heavy gauge coiled spring 4 I which presses against the disk-like portion 42of the valve. Here the valve has a tubular neck 43 and ports 44. The disk portion is pressed by the spring against the packing washer 45. The only difference in this form of the invention over that shown is that instead of using the closed end button 25 we use a hollow button in the form of a neck to receive the nozzle ll of the fluid can.

The spring in this arrangement is fairly heavy and therefore it is necessary to telescope the nozzle into the neck 43 and to press it against the disk 42 for purposes of opening the valve against tension of the spring.

A careful consideration of the foregoing dewhat is 1."A closing plug for the screw threaded filler hole of conventional-type pocket or equivalent cigar or cigarette lighters comprising a hollow externally screw-threaded plug provided at one end with a finger grip and centrally provided -with a fluid inlet filler hole, said plug being, in

addition, internally screw-threaded, an externally' screw-threaded centrally apertured cuplike fitting screwed into the internal threads in said plug, said fitting providing, within the confines of said plug, an annular stop shoulder, a coiled spring mounted in said fitting and projecting into said plug, a disk-like valve sliclably mounted in said plug and lined up for operation in conjunction with the fitting and spring, said valve having a central cylindrical protuberance and the latter being provided, adjacent said disk- .valve, with orifices defining fluid inlet ports, said protuberance projecting into the filler hole in said plug and providing a convenient closure and actuating memberwhich, in practice, is adapted 'hcleof a conventional-type pocket or equivalent cigar or cigarette lighter comprising a hollow externally screw-threaded plug provided at one end with a circular outstanding marginally knurled finger grip, said finger grip being provided with screwdriver kerfs and being additionallyprovided with a central filler hole, said hole being of a diameter appreciably less than the bore of said plug, said plug, at its opposite end, being 4 internally screw-threaded, an externally screwthreaded centrally-apertured cup-like fitting screwed into the internal threads of said plug, saidfitting providing, within the confines of said plug, an annular stop shoulder, the apertured end portion of said fitting being provided with screwdriver kerfs, a disk-like valve fitting snugly and slidably in the bore of said plug, said valve being provided with a central cylindrical hollow button, said button, at its point of connection with said valve, having inlet orifices, the button -to:;be forcibly pressed open -by the customary- :nozzleon a conventional-type lighter fiuid can.

. a .2. A closingplug for the screw th'rea'ded filler projecting into the aperture in said finger grip and being normally flush therewith, said finger grip limiting the outward movement of the disk valve and the aforementioned shoulder limiting the movement in the opposite direction, a packing ring situated in said plug and surrounding thefiller hole in said finger grip, and a coiled spring confined in said fitting and bearing at one end against the fitting and at the opposite end against said valve. 3. A closing plug for the screw-threaded fille hole of a conventional-type pocket or equivalent cigar or cigarette lighter comprising a hollow externally screw-threaded plug adapted to thread into said filler hole and provided at its normally outer end with an outstanding circular marginally knurled finger grip, said finger grip having a central reduced aperture constituting a filler hole to accommodate the nozzle of a lighter fluid can, said finger grip being further provided with screwdriver kerfs, said plug at its inner end being internally screw-threaded, a cup-like fitting having external screw threads screwed into the internal threads of said plug, one end of said fitting projecting beyond the adjacent end of the plug, being centrally apertured and provided with screwdriver kerfs, a coiled spring located in said fitting, a disk-like valve operable in said plug," one end of said spring bearing against and serving to normally close said valve, said valve being provided with a central hollow cup-like neck, the latter being provided with orifices at its point of juncture with said valve, said neck projecting into the filler hole in said finger grip, where it is in readiness to receive and be pushed open by the nozzle of the stated lighter fluid can.

FRANK R. RIZZO. CHARLES C. RIZZO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 8,251 Richardson July 29, 1851 654,552 Morris July 24,1900 666,025. Richards Jan. 15, 1901 1,006,075 Foster Oct. 17,1911 1,111,124 Arnold Sept. 22; 1914 1,733,641 Banfield Jr., et al. Oct.29, 1929 1,859,908 Arcnson May 24, 1932 2,153,330 Kludt Apr. 4, 1939 2,356,326 Lebus Aug. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS" j; Numberv 7 Country Date- 625,2'98 France Apr. 23-, 1927 

